Don't buy my books from B&N or Amazon!

Wow, really? An author is asking readers NOT to purchase their books from Amazon or B&N. Most authors expound upon the virtues of having their work available through these "wonderful" venues.

A.) NO ONE asks to be listed on B&N or Amazon it automatically happens whether you like it or not. Secondly, why would I want to be listed on B&N on-line when they won't even consider carrying my books in their brick and mortar stores therefore making it impossible for me to plan an event there. And all because I chose "NOT" to agree to the "industry" standard return policy that sinks ALL less-than-large publishers. They don't even pursue setting up a separate return policy that works better for ALL. But that's because large publishers, back in the day, designed the warped "industry" standard return policy not the bookstores. So in B&N's defense, it's the large publishers that truly suck. Even so, I won't support any bookstore that doesn't support small publishers.

Oh and B.) why would I ask to be listed on Amazon when they blatantly list two of my books as available through them as "new" THROUGH AMAZON when there's no way for them to "legally" get them. They're both out of print and quite unavailable. My correspondence with them has been a circular discussion of biblical proportions and I'm forced to sit back quietly because I can't afford a lawyer and, well, it's hardly worth it.

Either way, I didn't ASK to be listed on these sites, no author does, it's automatic once you apply for a ISBN through Bowker and stick it on your book. How nice!

Of course you may purchase ANY of my books ALL day long through Black Bed Sheet Books and well that would be wonderful. I also offer it for sale on my site at SueDent.net and it's available at many other on-line sites OTHER THAN Amazon and B&N . . . THANK GOD!!

Simon & Schuster Celebrates Banned Book Week!

Here's the LINK: Simon & Schuster Celebrates Banned Book Week! or in this case, "here's your sign."



So the publisher responsible for the ludicrous "industry standard return policy" between bookstores and distributors that ensures ALL small publishers will fail if they abide by it, is now celebrating banned book week!



Is anyone really waiting for their true color to show?



Good Grief!

Do you wanna say some good stuff about Electric Angel?

Do you wanna say some good stuff about Electric Angel, I know I want you to!

Yep, that's my way of asking for editorial reviews. I've got an ARC or whatever you want to call it for anyone who is in the business of reviewing ARC's. Since I'll never get to Publisher's Weekly, (don't qualify. Not with a big publisher and not going to be strung out by their tall-tales that they review as many folks as they can get to . . . yeah right?) I instead look for anyone else. Actually I don't have to look far, I've already have one ARC sent off to the British Fantasy Society and will send a few more out shortly.

If you're interested though you can contact me at suedent@neverceese.com and I'll see if you qualify. I'll only send the ARC out to qualified reviewers. ;)

Also for any of my "Christian" reviewers, meaning those who review work for those publishers who write exclusive denominational fiction, Electric Angel will be submitted to Spring Arbor for distribution for all the good that does. But hey, it does make it AVAILABLE for sale in places where it wouldn't be even if it doesn't get it in the door of ANY "Christian" bookstore as they claim it does.

Okay, yes so anyway. Book should be out shortly to buy. Pre orders can already be made on this site. Just go to the Electric Angel tab at the top of this page. No. It's not showing up on Amazon yet but don't look for a bargain there. I'm not going to allow it. If you want the book the best price will be from me or Black Bed Sheet Books. That includes Kindle, Nook or whatever format you ask for. Yep, yep!

Book Launch Par-tay!!!!!

First I'd like to thank Days of the Dead, Black Bed Sheet Books, Jim Sorfleet of sNs photography and Master Ron Fitzgerald for making this Book Launch particularly SPECTACULAR!!!

Jim will be there with a table set-up, Ron will be there at Kitty Zom's table and officially at mine from 2-3 P.M. Saturday to sign the cover he posed for. Don't even tray to complain that it's too far to come as I'll be driving/swimming up from Mississippi. ;D

I'll have copies of my Bram Stoker Short-listed Never Ceese republished through Black Bed Sheet Books as well as hard to find (unless they're stolen and being sold as new. Thanks Amazon, you so rock (yeah, that's sarcasm) copies of Forever Richard which BBS plans to republish later this year or early next year. ;)

So as we say here in the good ol' south, "y'all come!"

Sue's Virtual Book Signing makes Gothic.Net Front Page news!

And here's the page where you can read all about it!



And if you're in the are do not miss this event being thrown in honor of Gothic.net's new design. ;)

Just to remind you . . .

. . . or perhaps to clarify, I do not write for, nor have I EVER written for, that specific market of readers that CBA (and now many other copy-cat publishers) were set up to serve in 1950. My stories have general market appeal. I did begin to market to those specific readers not realizing how this would affect marketing my book. I even went as far as to have my books approved by Spring Arbor as I was told this was Ingram's Christian arm and doing so would enable me to get my books into Christian bookstores, on-line and otherwise. All it really did was make my books available for order in brick & mortar Christian bookstore and able to show up on most on-line Christian bookstores but not the larger ones that cater to affiliated and targeted publishers of which I'm not one.

I had my books unapproved by Spring Arbor so now Christian Bookstores can't even order my books if you want one. ;D However, on-line stores are still posting it as available. It isn't available and they won't be able to get it for you. I hate to show up on these sites as it implies I write for a market that doesn't support any author but those who write for a very targeted market and mostly only those who pay to be affiliated.

Just wanted to make sure y'all know I didn't sell out.

I didn't.

I still write for the general market and I still appeal to readers who enjoy work that targeted market publishers (affiliated and otherwise) put out. I'd also like to add to my author friends who frequent my blog, approval by Spring Arbor is free and easy but there is absolutely no advantage to signing up. In fact, I've yet to find a reason why they exist.

Hardback of Never Ceese rights returned!

It is with great pleasure I post this letter today, having received it in 2009. Great pleasure indeed. So pay attention AMAZON because if you are selling the hardback of Never Ceese yourself it is because you are getting it from Journey Stone or whatever distributor they've managed to hold onto. If you sell the hardback of Never Ceese after today, you are selling stolen goods and I, the owner of Never Ceese the hardback will come after you. Hey, if I can't get what's owed to me one way, I'll get it the other. The rights are mine as of today. That goes for anyone else selling Never Ceese the hardback having acquired it through Journey Stone. Of course anyone selling it after getting it some other way is safe and please do enjoy whatever money you make of off the sell. ;D

But Amazon, LOOK OUT! Muhahahahahaha! Oh yeah, the letter:




Ask me if I'm going to have GREAT fun telling Amazon, Barnes & Noble and all the other chain bookstores that if they order Never Ceese the hardback from whatever distributor Journey Stone is using, (I suspect the hard to pin down Baker & Taylor) that they will be BREAKING THE LAW and IF they don't stop, I shall take legal action. And then I'll go after the distributor. HEY! If I can't make money, you can't make money. If you don't help me, I don't help you. GIVE ME A BREAK!!!! Fun indeed!!!!

Don't buy from Amazon!!!!!

Well, at least don't buy Never Ceese the hardback from Amazon. These books would be books provided by the now defunct Journey Stone Creations who kept/stole over 200 of books owed to me for website work before clandestinely liquidating over 5000 of Never Ceese to the open market AFTER paying no attention to the offer I made them for my books which was more than the liquidator offered.

Whatever.

Anyway, the hard copies of Never Ceese that Amazon is selling are Journey Stones and they are charging, get this, over $14.00 for a book that everyone else is selling for $2 to $3. I don't get money either way but for the love of God please save yourself a dollar or two. I already got screwed. You don't need to get screwed as well.

Bottom line, please buy the paperback version. ;)I see all of that money.

Return Policy Blues/Scam - Part three.

Part two prompted some very interesting comments but none are more revealing than the one posted by my publisher who has been there and back. Since comments to blogs are almost better than the blog itself I will post my publishers response here. Just know I was actually considering going the route my publisher went after talking with the distributor they went with until that distributor couldn't promise me any help if books came back unsellable. The only thing the distributor would say is that she would GUESS that only 5% were ever returned damaged. If that's true then explain why my current publisher is now being charged over $900 for one month for returned books. Now I'm no expert at math but that sounds like a LOT more than 5%!!!!

Without further ado, my publishers' comment:

What really gets my goat is damaged returns to the distributor. Neither I nor my authors is physically responsible for the damaged book! yet, who sucks up the cost?

The distributor stores the book, they package and mail it to the buyer. Somewhere in this process a book is damaged. I pay for a) original fulfillment fee, b) the book printing, c) reimburse the buyer for what they paid, d) pay the distributor for their return admin fee and, e) have one less book to sell. And, I haven't even touched the darn book -- I pay the distributor to do it.

Perhaps the "damage" occurred in the printing? well, most of my books are printed by the same company that distributes them. But, I don't see them offering to eat the damaged return.

For a small publisher, it is the middle man that reaps the benefits -- not the bookstores or the publisher/ author.

British Fantasy Awards 2010: the Longlist?

What? What? What?

British Fantasy Awards 2010: the Longlist

What? What? What?

Sue pinches self. Checks the alignment of the stars. Calculates PI *no not that PI*, sits at computer and checks to make sure she's not looking at someone elses inbox and finally traces letters on screen with finger to make sure thats HER book on the long-list!

What? What? What?

Just to demonstrate the impact this has had on me as a writer, "I DON'T CARE IF NO ONE VOTES FOR "Forever Richard." My absolute day and birthday has been made. Unbelievable. I'm . . . speechless.

Imagine what'd I'd be if it actually moved on to the short-list.

I may have to schedule a trip to the UK now to personally hug some people!!! ;D

By the way, Richard doesn't feel neglected anymore!

A superb Good Reads review.

Evan Day posted his review of Never Ceese. Doesn't get much better. ;)

One comment he makes is that because of some light swearing, alcohol and tobbaco use my work won't show up in Christian bookstores. I'd like to say that this statement is inaccurate. My books have been approved for distribution to the Christian market and can show up in Christian bookstores. The reason they won't be found in larger Christian bookstores is because these bookstores are affiliated with CBA and only carry books produced by CBA affiliated publishers. That's not speculation. That's a sad fact.

Now for the review. ;)

A somewhat off the radar book. A kind of Christian fiction vampire/werewolf novel aimed at the YA crowd.

A vampire and a werewolf meet up and try to contact a few scientists that may have a cure for their condition. The problem is that the vampire is somewhat apathetic about ever being human again, the werewolf has been in wolf form for over 70 years and doesn't quite get modern civilization, the scientists are being manipulated by an evil stem cell researcher looking to use the vampire curse to achieve immortality...and most of the characters seem ready to strangle each other. The result is more humorous than horrifying. Richard, the vampire and Ceese the werewolf clash constantly, and the result is mostly funny. They share a connection which is heavily hinted at but only revealed in the very end. The resolution seemingly wraps things up but the author adds a few loose ends to set up for the sequel.

Oddly enough although Sue Dent has said she doesn't consider herself a "Christian author" and indeed, some light swearing and the use of alcohol and tobacco by some of the characters (ironically, perhaps more than the vampires and werewolves) ensure this won't be in many Christian book stores. But Christian faith plays a very explicit role in this book The vampires and werewolves are genuinely cursed, and the curse unquestionably evil in nature. For the characters to speak or even think of anything holy causes them great pain (one character tries to recite John 3:16 at one point, and it nearly kills him). The great fear of the protagonists, ultimately, is that they will face damnation in their current state.

I'm not here to theologically break down the book, but I will say it was a nice read with a very neat redemptive conclusion. And in a market full of vampires and werewolves who either embrace their baser natures, treat their curse like a superpower, or endlessly brood in hopelessness, it seems downright refreshing to see a tale where the curse is genuine evil but redemption is accomplished triumphantly.

(more at goodreads)